Do You Really Know George & Abraham?

January 28, 2018Leave a comment

Fact or Fib?

George Washington never told a lie. Abraham Lincoln walked ten miles to return a nickel. Theses are some of the “facts” I was taught about these two most beloved and celebrated presidents. What’s the truth?

I went on a hunt for facts about both of these presidents, each of whom have wonderful, but not necessarily true stories about their lives.

sharing is caring!

As I accumulated the facts about George and Abraham, I began to think about how to share these facts with my students. It was an easy decision to make a game of it all. Part of why I create products is to make learning fun for my students while also making life easier for my teacher friends. Here was a perfect opportunity to share what I had learned with both my students AND friends!

Celebrate With George and Abraham

I created a “FACT” or “FIB” sort to have students read statements about each of the presidents, and after discussion, decide whether it’s a fact or a fib. I have included the answers for teachers. I also thought it would be fun for students to then take their newly acquired facts and create an acrostic about either president or both! I’ve included a short assessment or pre/post worksheet and also a Venn diagram to compare the two presidents.

Celebrate Presidents’ Day with George and Abraham!

What are some and engaging ways you celebrate Presidents’ Day? Let me know!

Thanks!

How I Make Fractions and Valentines Fun !

January 15, 2018February 5, 2023Leave a comment

The most dreaded fifth grade math skill…fractions!!!

After 27 years in teaching and 22years of teaching fifth graders, both departmental and self-contained, the most dreaded standard faced by teachers and fifth grade2rs alike is the dreaded FRACTIONS unit!

Fractions seem to be the “boogie man” of math and so I was looking for a way to combine the practicing of fraction skills and the upcoming Valentine’s Day with a fun activity. While we do have a small party and exchanging of Valentine’s cards, there is still an expectation of staying the course with lessons!

Awkward age…Fifth Grade

Fifth graders are looking forward to middle school at this time of year…more freedom, less teacher monitoring. At the same time, they still enjoy Valentine’s parties and the exchanging of cards. I wanted to make an activity that my kids didn’t see as “baby-ish” and would also challenge their math skills…always an area that needs practice!

The best of both Fractions and Valentine’s day!

The result was “Fraction Operations Valentines Mystery!” My students love to break codes and solve puzzles, so combining that with fractions, which we are studying and reviewing, seemed a natural.

Cupid has had his bow stolen by one of his holiday symbol friends and in order to identify the thief, students have to solve 4 different coded messages by solving fractions problems using all four operations.

I have also included a “How To Use” for teachers! Let me help you with your lesson planning!

Last, but certainly not least, each fraction worksheet has an answer sheet to help teachers help their students solve the mystery!

You can find this newest of my store products in my store by simply clicking on any of the pictures in my blog!

What do you think? How do you make fractions fun for your students? Let me know…I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks,

Sue

Want To Get Students Excited About Reading?

January 9, 2018Leave a comment

Reading is no fun? whaaaat?

As a pleasure reader myself, it’s a killer when I hear a student say, “I don’t like to read.” I’m not talking about reading required in school subjects, I’m talking about reading for pleasure; curl up with a good book and be whisked away to some other place and time. Too many students see reading as a chore, to be put off as long as possible. What’s a teacher/reader to do?

Here are some things that are working with my students…

try it, you’ll like it!

I looked over my daily schedule and I found two days where I could carve out about 15-20 minutes for my students to do some independent reading. I wrote the times onto my schedule posted on the board daily. For me, out of sight, out of mind, so seeing “independent reading” in the schedule, helped me make it happen. I made no requirements or demands about what my students could read. I let them make their own choices.

Leave it to the students!

During morning meetings, several of my students, who do read for pleasure, began to share books they were reading. Hearing from other readers, my more reluctant readers began to try books their friends were reading. One author, Margaret Peterson Haddix, really caught their attention with her “Shadow Children” series and the excitement from the students about how good the stories were, sent my reluctant readers flying to the library! Score!!!

Feed them and they will come

My school has signed up for the Book It! program sponsored by Pizza Hut. When students read a certain number of books, they are “rewarded” with a certificate for a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. A bribe? YES!!!! The program comes with a certificate book that the teacher fills out for the student who has met the agreed upon goal for the month. By the way, I have zero, nada, no affiliation with Book It! Another score!

technology calls!!! Let’s answer!

My school librarian turned me on to an online library that is free for teachers and students! It’s Epic books and you can find it at http://www.getepic.com. It will walk you through the set up.

I created a class within the library, and gave the class code to the students and they were fired up! Epic is just like your local library, but in this case, the books are at the finger tips of my students on their chromebooks! While it is a subscription website for parents, my students can read for free when connected to our school’s WIFI! Many of my students reach for their chromebooks and Epic when their work is done. There are many audible books for struggling readers, too! The Goosebumps series is really popular and it’s an audible series that many of my students are flying through!

Ta-Daaa!

So there you go! I’m not saying these ideas will do it for all your “I don’t like to read,” students, but as Einstein said, “When you do the same thing over and over, expecting different results…” well, you know the end of that quote!

I’m always looking for ways to encourage my students to find pleasure in reading independently, so please share what you find is working in your classroom!